Pau Gasol is slowly starting to think about his future and whether or not the Los Angeles Lakers will be in it. For most of the offseason, Gasol faced trade rumors due to the uncertainty with Dwight Howard. Even after the center departed, many wondered if Gasol would be sent packing. However the veteran returned for the 2013 season, but will he be there come 2014?
Gasol is not jumping to any conclusions regarding his future in Los Angeles. He is not making a statement one way or another, he is simply just intrigued by certain options. Gasol is set to become a free agent at the end of the season and given the Lakers financial situation, the center is curious about the idea of returning to the Memphis Grizzlies. When asked by NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper, Gasol noted heading back to the team he spent six-plus seasons at could be a real possibility.
"It's appealing," Pau Gasol said, via NBA.com. "One of the best centers in the NBA, one of the best interior players, is my brother (Marc Gasol). There's a lot of attractive factors there. But who knows if that's even a possibility or if that will ever happen."
The Grizzlies have a strong case to land Gasol. They have the cap space heading into 2014. Gasol's brother Marc has developed into one of the emerging stars of the league. Memphis is waiting on Zach Randolph's decision on whether he will elect to pickup his $16.5 million player option or seek out a long-term contract elsewhere. Gasol could be the perfect for the team.
"Right now, I'm just trying to focus on (the Lakers' opponents) and staying healthy and playing a very successful year so this team and others will have the certainty and the confidence that I am a difference maker," Gasol said.
Whether Gasol is a difference maker remains to be seen. The amount of his worth is still in question. Gasol's age and dipping numbers put some doubt in how much he deserves to earn in his next contract. The forward is averaging 14.4 points and 9.5 rebounds this season, but is shooting just 41.7 percent from the floor. The veteran admits that he is frustrated with the progress of the current season, expressing his frustration in Mike D'Antoni.
"The fact that I'm not getting the ball in the post affects directly my aggressiveness. When I'm not getting the ball where I want to, where I'm most effective, where I can bang guys and utilize my skill, that affects my aggressiveness and overall intensity...What do you think? I'm not going to say anything, but it's easy to see. You see a guy with a certain skill set, where does it fit better, where it doesn't," Gasol said, via the Los Angeles Times.
If the veteran is that frustrated, Memphis could be looking pretty good come the offseason. Kobe Bryant's new two-year contract puts Los Angeles in a bind financially anyways so Gasol could seek out a better deal elsewhere.
